Floating discharge-pipe for hydraulic dredges.



A. W. ROBINSON.

FLOATING DISCHARGE PIPE FOR HYDRAULIC DREDGES. APPLICATION FILED IuNE23. 1914.

1,143,321 Patnted June I5, 1915.

THE NORRIS PETERS Co., PHoTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTGN. D. C4

Y which they were more `or less Asheltered .f

ARTHUR WELLS ROBINSON, OF MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA.

FLOATING DISCHARGE-PIPE FOR HYDRAULIC DREDGES.

specieation of Letters Patent.

Patented June 15, 1915.

Original application led July 1913, Serial No. 778,644.V Divided and thisfapplication lcd .Tune 23, 1914.

Y Y Serial No. 846,739.

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, 'ARTHUR WELLsLRoB- INsoN, a citizen of the Dominion of Canada, and a resident of the city of Montreal, in the county of Hochelaga, Province of Quebec, andDominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Floating Discharge-Pipes for I-Iydraulic Dredges, a specification.

This application is a division of the a plication filed by me on the 12th day -of 4July, 1913, Serial`No. 778,644.

In apparatus of the class stated as heretofore constructed, the discharge pipeshave usually been of comparatively small sizel and haveV usually been used under conditions in against kviolent wave .actionV and other destructive agencies; but inV recent years the size and power ofsuchjapparatus have very greatlyincreased and the conditions under which submarine dredging is `done are frequently suchas to subject theapparatus `to the destructive effects ofV storms and heavy currents in eXposedpositions and `it has been found that to meet the requirementsfof the later day systems, much larger stronger and hence more sea-worthy iioats and correspondingly increased discharge pipes are required than have heretofore been used. Furthermore the connecting devices between the several floats constituting the discharge y sections carried by the ioats as system and also the connecting devices between the ends of the several discharge pipe heretofore used have been demonstrated to be comparatively useless in view of theA enormous strains that are exerted upon them by reason of the conditions above referred to.

It is the object of this present invention, therefore, to provide a special construction of spherical-or so-called ball'` and socket joint connecting vthe sections of the discharge pipe and tosupply it with suitable packing and co-acting parts whereby a nonrigid connection is obtained and leakage prevented. -V j VThe drawings hereof illustrate one form in which myinvention may be embodied and Ifregard it as a useful form in as much as the parts are simple, durable in-construction and efficient in operation.`

Figure 1 illustrates a vertical sectional j the arrow,

of which the following is view showing the-ends of two adjoining discharge pipe sections embodying the invention; Fig. 2 illustrates an endwise vertical sectional view taken-through the center of the packing and looking in the direction of the steel band or follower for the soft packing and the compressing rod therefor beingshown in elevation.

In the drawings 12, 12, are the adjoining ends of two sections of the discharge pipe. 13 is a strong annular casting very securely bolted to the left-hand discharge pipe as shown by bolts 14 and on its upper part is a raised portion 15 having a reinforcing rib 16 and recessed as at 17 so as to receive a coupling link 18 which is provided with an eye on its endthrough which passes a coupling pin 19. The interior of :the casting 13 at its outer part is tapered as `shown at 20,so as to afford the socket for the ball about to be described, which is on the opposed end of the adjoining tube. This socket is'for a short distance made parallelsided or truly cylindrical, as shown at 21, so as to permit longitudinal movement of theball within itwithout changing the reof this socket there is cut a groove as shown,

withinA which are contained the following packing devices, a soft packing ring 22, next fto it a split metallic compression ring 23 and outside of it a compressing band or rod 24, which `has an enlargement 25 (see Fig. 2) at one end, which engaging with the walls ofthe socket as shown holds that end rigidly in place, the other end, after making a ring-like circuit, terminates in a threaded part 26 provided with nut and jam nut 27 and 28, so that when these nuts are turned up, the draft upon the rod will cause the circle described by it to contract and since this rod engages with and slips upon the surface ofthe split metallic ring or band 23, it is obvious that uniform and inward radial pressure will be brought to bear upon the soft packing 22, thus forcing it into tight contact with the outer surface of the ball, which is about to be described. 29 is a strong annular casting 30.1"igidlyattached as by bolts or rivetsl to theendoi."` the tube.. I prefer, in order to reduce weight, toA core out a hollow space-32 in this casting, as shown in Fig. l. Its outer surface, which constitutes vthe ball of the; ball andi socket joint, is of course given such dimensions and contour, preferably truly spherical; as to'- enable it to properly co-act with the socketon the opposedI end' ofthe adjoining tube. 'Immediately in rear of rthis ball is another strongl casting 33,. provided 4withran upwardly extendingplate 34,-through which' l' longitudinal separation ofv theV discharge there is an opening 3'5'or the passage of theA `shank of the link 118, which has near'its end a strong washer' or abutment plate 36 and is provided with nut and set nut 37 and 38.'.

A springf39fencircles the shankof the and takes a bearing againstthe outer-sur aceof the plate 3a andthe inner surface of the washer or abutment plate 361, Ifprefery to employ duplex springs,one within the other, as shown, the smaller one 40 being Y of lesspower than the outer and larger one` 39.. I find't-hisimproves the cushioning eifect. Y

The operation of the apparatusis as fol'- lows: The link and pin connection between the ends of ladjoining discharge pipes being superimposed over the center of the ball andy socket joint, as clearly shown in Fig. l, permits horizontal ieXure to the full extent of. the movement for which the joint is designed andv this iienureis in a measure controlled and' cushioned andthe strains uponthe link andl pin connection are reduced by the springs 39and: 40. Furthermore, slight struction likewise has the` further important` advantagethat it permits verticalfiiexure as wellV ashori'zontal` fleXure to such extent as will be necessary evenin aV rough seaway andl that this movement may be permitted@ without' any jamming ofV the parts, I ream" out the eye in the coupling link 18 attopand bottom' as shown in'Fig. 2. If the packing should at' anytime fail to make a satisfactorily tight joint between the ball and its socket, then'by tighteningA up the nuts' 27, 28, the packing throughoutits entire circumference will be forced inwardly, thus maintaining the-desired" tight ft. f

f It [will be obvious The compressing` rod' or band 24L very simple, `inexpensive and' effective-"method oisealing a rjoint of the characterA here presented; lt, will` be'V particularly notedV that my improved construction is especially valuable in' ponderousapparatus of the class inA question because owing to the size and weightoiifthe floats and dischargepi'pes;

they are. seldom vremovedv from ,the water after. once being launched.V Therefore' access to their under partsis practically pre- Y eluded and by my Aconstruction the coupling anduncoupling of the severalffloats -is a: very simple, inexpensive-'and expeditious operation because all theconnecting` parts-are above the water line and all that is'iiecessary is to disengage the chainsor equivalent'V devices (not. shown)V which always connect v the ii'oats, and' liftfthecoupling pin 1 9,

` whereuponthe several vfloat units become en-- tirely detached' vfrom each other because Ythe ball and. socket construction is such that the ball may be drawn end'vvise` outfi'rom the socketv withoutV any. mechanicalv operation whatever, `'Also that thefseveral' floats and the discharge pipes are`v held in requisite .f

flexible connection witheach V401311.61' byV theji heavily constructed" andf .strong ball Vand i socket joint, which connects, the'interlocking ends ofthe discharge pipe sections and that the cushioned link and? pin'V connection, while some aid' in` this lrespect', fulfls'the impor- ,g

tant oihce offholdingfthe several float sections.,

together andthatlit does this by :L -cushioned Y or slightly yielding action, thus enablingthe necessary in afseaway;

miliarwith` suchv mattersthat modifications may be madein the details fof-construction and yety theessentials ofY the inventionbe re-f tained?.` I therefore doinotlimit myself in Y i 'this'respect j I claim-- 1'.V In afloating:discharge'pipeffordredges, j1 10 a ball5and socket joint in the discharge pipe,

a link andv pin connection fsuperposed upon` 'f structure to twist verticallyiasA is fre(p iently r tofthosefwho areV fathe upperside of the adjoining endsofl the discharge pipe; sections, the pinbeing' sub-l stantially inthe same vertical plane as `the.

centerol the-ball, and apackingffor thef' ball and socket,joint'comprising.anannular Y recessin jthe socket, anl annular packing Y therein, acompression band`r outside of the* Y packing, a split metallic ring interposed between 'the packing :andVV the compression band, and means to tighten the b andlv 2. In a floating dischargeIpipe'fordredges, a ball and socket jointl in the-discharge'pipe, the ball being a segment of a sphere`=andfthe outer part ofthe socketcylindrical', afpacking interposed between the ballvandA Vthe socket comprising an annularrecess in the socket, anannularv packing therein, a compression band outside of the packing, asplitmetallic ring between the packing and the In testimony whereof I have signed my compression band, and means to tighten the name to this specilication in the presence of 10 4 band, and a link and pin connection between two subscribing witnesses.

the adjoining ends of the discharge pipe,

the pin being substantially in the same ver- ARTHUR WELLS ROBINSON' tical plane as the center ofthe ball, and Witnesses:

spring cushioning devices which permit lon- CHAS. IsAAos,

gitudinal movement of the link. CHAs. MCGOVERN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

